Due to an accident in which several passengers are killed, Richard Barthelmess, an accomplished pilot, is let go. Later, he saves Sally Eilers, a stunning parachute jumper, whose chute got stuck in a tree. When her pilot dies, Barthelmess gets the job and he and Eilers become romantically involved. However, Barthelmess believes a pilot should never marry and breaks Eilers' heart. His younger brother, Tom Brown, who is also a pilot, meets Eilers and falls in love with her, taking Barthelmess' place when he gets injured. Barthelmess buys a wedding ring for Eilers but finds she has already married his brother. He becomes known as the greatest aviator in the world as he travels from country to country as a tramp flyer. Eilers runs into him in Havana and sees the wedding ring he turned into a talisman. When he explains, she admits she still loves him the most, but they receive a message that Tom's plane has crashed in rough seas. Barthelmess sets out to rescue his brother, says goodbye to Eilers, and resumes his wandering.